Immortal Healer: Immortal Stonekeeper Prequel (2025) Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Responsibilities

Read chapter 9 of Immortal Healer: Immortal Stonekeeper Prequel (2025) by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

Now, that was the asshole of all plot twists, because it only gave Duncan way more questions than the answers that he needed. Unfortunately, Yuri wasn’t inclined to elaborate further just yet, and Hilda was still too stunned by the revelation to properly react. “Mother, what—” the girl began after a few more seconds of opening and closing her mouth like a gasping fish, but Yuri swiftly put a finger to her lips. Footsteps rattled the metal grille above them. “Not now, sweetie.” The woman beckoned her daughter to follow her further into the basement. “This way. Everything will be explained.” Duncan followed the two ladies silently, still wondering how on earth Yuri Kitagawa was still alive after all these years, especially when he saw her die with his own eyes. She didn’t take his elixir when he made it, so she couldn’t be an immortal like him. Was she a ghost who possessed an innocent maiden’s body? It couldn’t be; Duncan could only sense one soul in this body. Was Yuri some sort of changeling who could swap souls? That didn’t make sense, either. It had been five hundred years, but Duncan clearly remembered that she was a proper human back then. What the hell was going on? Yuri led them into a room that resembled a locked vault, which slid open after a small spark left her fingers. Duncan hid his surprise. So Yuri was magic as well. Interesting. “We’ll be safe in here,” the woman muttered as the circular iron door rolled shut behind her. “Only those with magic can access this room, which is why Miguel uses it as his command room. He believes himself the only one in the cult who can wield magic, after all.” Duncan surveyed his surroundings. Not like there was much to survey, anyway. Other than a few filing cabinets around, nothing else was interesting. In fact, the room looked more like some kind of vault. Cold bricks lined the walls and the floor, all of them uniformly made to perfection. And although they were dull-looking, they were relatively well-maintained. It was clear that this room was used often. Duncan could only hope that Miguel was still too busy up there to come in here. “Alright, Yuri.” He folded his arms. “What’s with this cult of yours? Why did you kidnap us here if you’re going to save us anyway? Where have you been all these centuries? Explanation. Right now. ” “What is going on, Mother?” Hilda chimed in as well. Yuri leaned back against a wall, a slightly guilty look crossing her face as she shifted her gaze to Hilda. “Alright, alright. I’ll start from the beginning,” she said. “The Marked Emissaries is a paranormal cult founded by Miguel Chukyunwelu twenty years ago. They believe that the only way to be spared the horrors of war forever is to strive to be like God’s supernatural creations. Vampires, werewolves, mermaids, Kitsune… You name it. That ritual earlier syphons the magic of supernatural creatures. After which, it will release that magic into the human body to ‘perfect our flawed bodies’. Or at least, that is how it's supposed to work.” “That makes no sense at all.” Duncan frowned. “Where on Earth did he come up with that idea?” “Nobody knows, although there were rumours that Miguel was saved by some supernatural entity during the First Great War. Some say that’s why he views supernatural beings as the antithesis of violence, which is why he always tells us that they are divine wonders sent by God to save us from the horrors of war.” The witch doctor rolled his eyes at the absurdity of the concept. As always, humans reacted badly to anything they couldn’t understand. Either they try to get rid of it— the Salem Witch Trials were still the most pointless, counter-productive things Duncan had ever seen— Or they try to take it for themselves like the Marked Emissaries were doing right now. “Hang on, how do you know so much? Are you a part of this cult as well?” Hilda asked, her eyes going wide with revelation. “Those insects… I saw one of them in Father’s body. That sick ritual earlier. Did that happen t